Adorable Baby Announcements

Even though this is a wedding blog -- when a great thing non-wedding related thing comes along, I need to share. Especially when those things involve other young, female business owners. My good friend Jill who I grew up with is an AMAZING graphic designer and just launched a company doing baby announcements. It's called Peekaboo Paperie. Check out some of her samples below. She's offering original designs for a fraction of what other sites are charging. She'll even translate into Spanish!

Not only are her designs affordable, but the best part is that she is donating a portion of her proceeds the Infant Crisis Services Inc., which helps babies in need.

This is by far my favorite design.

Check out all of Jill's designs on her website or email her at info@peekaboopaperie.com.

This won't be the last you'll hear from Jill. Jill and Peekaboo Paperie are teaming up with my team at As You Wish Wedding & Event Design to bring a custom you a custom designed collection of wedding stationary. Contact us for details and keep checking back for updates!

Just Flat Out Cool!

I'm a big advocate of making a statement with these elements of your wedding:

1. Guestbook
2. Placecards
3. Linens

Guests are expecting ivory linens, reception location stamped placecards, and a plain book to sign. When you go out of your way to add a special touch to any or all of these elements, guests really remember it.

I recently used individual vases as place cards for a floral spring themed wedding. We pulled all of the different flowers from the bride's bouquet and put them in vases. Not only was it a gorgeous display of 200 vases with the wedding flowers, but the guests got to take them home at the end of the night as a bonus favor!

www.lillianvernon.com

www.americanbridal.com

You could jazz this up in countless ways! Try filling it with foliage for a fall wedding, holly and berries for a winter wedding, sand and seashells for a nautical twist, or coordinating bridal party flowers.

Check Us Out!

Have you Bergen County Brides checked the debut issue of (201) Bride magazine yet?

Check out our ad on page 129!

Carmi & Mike's Wedding -- May 25, 2008

I had the pleasure of working with Carmi & Mike for almost a year leading up to their wedding. Carmi was completing medical school in Boston and Mike was studying in London so their planning period was tricky to say the least. In the end, they finally got to be together and had a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend celebration.

Cast of Characters:

Ceremony: St. Stephen's Parish, Kearny NJ

Reception: The Palace at Somerset

Flowers: Laurelwood Designs

Photography: Tania Lezak Photography

Videography: Blue Lobster Films

Transportation: Santos VIP Limousines

Band: Vali Music

Here are some of my favorite shots from the day:

Congratulations, Carmi & Mike! Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!

These awesome photos were taken by Tania and her second shooter Jan who did a fantastic job, as always :-) Thank you, Tania! Check out Tania's blog (www.tanialezakblog.com) and check out the slideshow she put together!)

Back From Under My "Wedding Season" Rock

It's been about a million years since I've posted here. This past Spring Wedding Season was insane in so many (great) ways. A whole bunch of new girls became wives and I can't wait to share their special days with you!

Hope you are all enjoying the summer. Keep checking back -- I have a ton of new things to share with you in the coming weeks!

Just Flat Out Cool!

Green weddings are becoming increasingly popular. A 100% Green wedding can be more expensive, but it can't hurt to add one or two Green elements. Check out http://www.plantamemory.com/greenweddings.html. Plant A Memory offers many different favors that are environmentally friendly:


These cones are "plantable." After the wedding, guests can take these home and plant them in the ground to grow.

Live Tree Seedlings



There are many different motifs you can choose from. You'll be able to incorporate any wedding theme you have onto your favors or Thank You's.

White boxes and ribbons can be ordered to match any decor scheme you choose.

Plant A Memory also offers honey, soap, candy, coasters, and many other wedding accessories. Check them out at www.plantamemory.com. Favors start at $1.

Have any other great vendors or ideas to incorporate into a Green wedding? Email us at Stacey@asyouwishwed.biz or leave a comment!

Reader Q & A

Q: My parents and his parents are willing to pay for most of our wedding. What do my parents pay for and what do his parents pay for? Should we just split everything?

A: You need to sit with both sets of parents and make sure that they have the same cost range in mind when it comes to paying for your wedding. If they are going to contribute the same amount, splitting it could be the way to go. Traditionally though, here is what each side should pay for:

These are the main items in a wedding. Most other smaller costs (postage for invitations,

The Bride Pays For:
The Groom's Wedding Band
Gifts for her Bridal Party
A Wedding Gift for the Groom
Accommodations and Travel Expenses for Bridesmaids (Optional)

The Groom Pays For:
The Bride's Engagement Ring and Wedding Band
The Honeymoon
A Wedding Gift for the Bride
The Marriage License
The Grooms Men's Gifts
Accommodations and Travel Expenses for Grooms Men (Optional)

The Groom's Family Pays For:
All Beverages at the Reception
Wedding Transportation
The Groom’s Tux
Rehearsal Dinner
Officiate Fee

The Bride's Family Pays For:
All Reception Costs, minus the Bar
Bride's Wedding Dress and Accessories
Wedding Stationary -- including Save The Dates, Invitations, Thank You Notes
Ceremony Costs
Postage
Photography
Videography
Gratuities
Post Wedding Brunch
All Wedding Flowers

The Bridal Party Pays For:
Bridesmaids Dresses/Tuxedos
Accommodations and Travel Expenses (Could also be paid for by Bride & Groom)

Keep in mind that it is much easier to get all the facts about what each party can afford to pay before jumping the gun and making any decisions that you could regret later on. Hold a meeting with both sides separately and create a detailed budget so that you know how much you have to spend on each category.

If we can answer any other budget questions, email us at Stacey@asyouwishwed.biz. Email us with any wedding questions you have!

Recent Weddings

Vital Statistics

December 31, 2007
Bride: Chela
Groom: Bryan
Church: Church of the Presentation, Upper Saddle River, NJ
Reception: Florentine Gardens, River Vale, NJ
Photographer: Giulianna Marie Studios, Flo
Transportation: Academy Buses and New Jersey Limo Bus
DJ: MMP Entertainment
Media Services & Video: Sal Travis Entertainment
Flowers: Brodericks Flowers

Although I love every single client that I work with, it's rare that once the wedding day comes, I am actually sad to be finished working with one. December 31, 2007 brought my favorite clients to date, and boy did they throw a party! The day started very early, with the girls getting ready at the Park Ridge Marriott.

Her gorgeous gown was designed by Pnina Tornai, exclusively for Kleinfelds.


Everyone's first glimpse at the gorgeous bride...she's glowing!






Florentine Gardens and Sal Travis Entertainment did a phenomenal job with the reception. DJ Marcello announced the grandparents, parents, and bridal party, while videoing them on a jumbo screen for the entire room to see. After the best man (Bryan's brother Andrew) and the maid of honor (Chela's twin sister, Seanan) were announced, a photo montage was played on the screen. First were photos of Chela growing up, followed by pictures of Bryan growing up, and finally photos of the couple. Then, the Bride and Groom made their first entrance as husband and wife...

Fog filled the room, while the bride and groom danced their first dance to a romantic Cher song. The bridal party joined in halfway through. As soon as this song ended, almost all two hundred guests flooded the dance floor.




You can't do a New Years Eve Wedding without the traditional countdown and toast. Moments before midnight, the screen dropped down once again and the entire wedding got to count down to 2008. What a great way to ring in the New Year and a brand new marriage -- with every single person you love and cherish!



The night ended with a video "wrap-up" showing clips from the ceremony and reception right up through the cake cutting.

Chela & Bryan -- Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your special day. It was such a pleasure working with you both. You as a couple, your bridal party, and your guests were amongst the nicest I have ever worked with. I wish you a lifetime of happiness, and many more awesome New Years Eves together!